Minneapolis City Council president Barbara Johnson believes Arden Hills remains the favorite site to one day host a new Vikings stadium but said her city could come under consideration in the months ahead.
The state’s shutdown and budget wrangling has at least temporarily sidelined the effort to send a bill to the legislature for a stadium in Arden Hills. A special legislative session to address the Arden Hills plan later this year is drawing speculation, but some leaders are on record doubting whether it will happen.
Thirty days ago Johnson and others who favor a Minneapolis site were even more concerned about Arden Hills, but now the whole stadium question could be put off until next year’s legislative session. “I think we may have a second chance here,” Johnson told Sports Headliners.
With the Vikings in support of Arden Hills and Ramsey County leaders agreeing on a county sales tax increase to help provide funding, the suburban site is the location of choice today. Johnson said that even going into the 2012 legislative session Ramsey County should be considered the favorite for a new Vikings stadium. “At this point, sure. They’re going to work it (the county’s plan),” Johnson said.
But more time probably means additional legislative review and hearings. More months for Minneapolis and perhaps Hennepin County to make a pitch for a downtown stadium to both legislative leaders and the Vikings ownership.
Johnson has been a supporter of a new stadium on the Metrodome site but knows the Farmers Market locale near Target Field has drawn interest, too, including from Hennepin County commissioner Mike Opat who led the drive to keep the Twins downtown.
“He told me to keep an open mind,” Johnson said. “That is what I am going to do.”